College Guide - Internships that aren’t just another day at the office

Field experience in the form of an internship can be the element that puts an applicant one step ahead in a job search. Internships let college students try on different professions before committing to a major and then kick-start their careers once they do make a decision. This once rare form of employment is now more important than ever. Here are a few Atlanta internships to keep in mind for this coming school year.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The CDC Collegiate Leaders in Environmental Health internships focus on public health and are best suited for majors in environmental studies, environmental engineering or ecology. Students must be a rising junior or senior and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

• Summer, nine-10 weeks

• Compensation: $500 weekly stipend

• Apply: www.cdc.gov/nceh/cleh

• Deadline: Feb. 18

• Requirements: application, résumé, two recommendations, transcript, two essays

Creative Loafing Atlanta

• Summer and by semester

• Compensation: college credit

• Apply: clatl.com/intern

• Deadline: July 20 for fall, Nov. 5 for spring, March 15 for summer

• Requirements: cover letter, resume, references, work samples

Georgia Aquarium

The aquarium offers internships in everything from fundraising to dive operations to accounting. Applicants do not have to be enrolled in college but must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.

• Summer and by semester, dates vary

• Compensation: college credit possible

• Apply: www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?AP=984163036, and then e-mail résumé to respective department

• Deadline: varies

• Requirements: application, résumé, references, three short-answer questions

Georgia Secretary of State

The Office of the Secretary of State has full-time and part-time offerings in seven different divisions. Students must have at least a 2.75 GPA; be enrolled as a college junior or senior, or enrolled in graduate or law school; and be enrolled in a Georgia college, university or accredited law school, or be a Georgia resident.

• Summer and by semester, 17 weeks during semester and 10 weeks during summer

• Compensation: hourly wage

• Apply: www.sos.georgia.gov/misc/intern.html

• Deadline: Oct. 16 for spring, March 19 for summer

• Requirements: application, references

Turner Broadcasting System

TBS has 12-week internships in many of its corporate divisions, including digital content, marketing and media operations. Applicants must be college juniors, seniors or graduate students.

• Summer and by semester, dates vary

• Compensation: college credit

• Apply: www.turner.com/careers/internships.html

• Deadline: varies

• Requirements: résumé, cover letter